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Brazil: Indigenous leader killed in armed raid
Attacks against southern Brazil’s Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous people are on the rise © Amnesty International “ The Brazilian authorities’ failure to resolve outstanding land claims is putting indigenous communities like the Guarani-Kaiowá at extreme risk of violence and social deprivation. ” Guadalupe Marengo, Amnesty International’s Deputy Americas Programme Director Tue, 22/11/2011 A deadly attack on an indigenous community in southern Brazil highlights the authorities’ failure to protect indigenous peoples amid ongoing land conflicts, Amnesty International said today. Some 40 gunmen arrived at a Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous encampment in southern Mato Grosso do Sul state, near the border with Paraguay, early on 18 November and shot their leader (cacique) Nísio Gomes before dragging him away. Gomes’ body and…
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UAE: End ‘travesty of justice’ for five convicted over President insults
The Supreme Court is accused of ‘cutting off the defence and ignoring their submissions © Amnesty International Amnesty International has urged the United Arab Emirates’ authorities to immediately release five activists following their conviction today by the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi for insulting government officials. Nasser bin Ghaith, Fahad Salim Dalk, Hassan Ali al-Khamis and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq received two years’ imprisonment for criminal defamation, while Ahmed Mansoor was given three years. Amnesty International considers the “UAE 5” activists to be prisoners of conscience. “The defamation charges the UAE5 faced are not internationally recognizable criminal offences and the trial process has been grossly flawed from the outset. The men are imprisoned for nothing…
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South Africa: ‘Dark day’ for free speech as secrecy bill is passed
“Today is a dark day for freedom of expression in South Africa. This fatally flawed bill, which is totally at odds with the South African constitution, takes us right back to the apartheid-era restrictions on free speech” Noel Kututwa, Amnesty International’s deputy Director for Africa. The South African parliament’s approval of a draconian secrecy bill which could see journalists and whistleblowers in prison for investigating state wrongdoing is a worrying development for the country, Amnesty International said today. The bill, which could see journalists facing up to 25 years in prison for publishing information which state officials want to keep secret, was overwhelmingly approved in parliament, with 229 votes to 107. Black-clad activists across the…
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Bahrain report must lead to action over protest abuses
The BICI report is looking into allegations of abuse by Bahraini security forces © Getty Images “ Allowing this independent inquiry into the Manama protests and their aftermath was a very welcome move, but the whole exercise will have been meaningless if the report’s recommendations are not translated into real action to redress abuses. ” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Acting Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Mon, 21/11/2011 The publication this week of a report on events surrounding pro-reform protests in Bahrain earlier this year is an opportunity for the government to deliver justice for the victims of human rights violations, Amnesty International said today. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report’s…
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Egypt military rulers must rein in security forces
Egyptian riot police stand ready during Tahrir Square protests © KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images “ This bloodshed over the weekend is utterly unacceptable. The violence yet again calls into question the orders given to security forces. ” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Acting Middle East and North Africa Director. Mon, 21/11/2011 Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) must urgently bring an end to the excessive use of force that has led to numerous deaths and injuries amid protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square since Saturday, Amnesty International said today. Some two dozen people have reportedly been killed in violent clashes that erupted in Cairo and Alexandria since Saturday. Hundreds have also been injured in the clashes…
Brazil: Indigenous leader killed in armed raid
Attacks against southern Brazil’s Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous people are on the rise © Amnesty International “ The Brazilian authorities’ failure to resolve outstanding land claims is putting indigenous communities like the Guarani-Kaiowá at extreme risk of violence and social deprivation. ” Guadalupe Marengo, Amnesty International’s Deputy Americas Programme Director Tue, 22/11/2011 A deadly attack on an indigenous community in southern Brazil highlights the authorities’ failure to protect indigenous peoples amid ongoing land conflicts, Amnesty International said today. Some 40 gunmen arrived at a Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous encampment in southern Mato Grosso do Sul state, near the border with Paraguay, early on 18 November and shot their leader (cacique) Nísio Gomes before dragging him away. Gomes’ body and…
UAE: End ‘travesty of justice’ for five convicted over President insults
The Supreme Court is accused of ‘cutting off the defence and ignoring their submissions © Amnesty International Amnesty International has urged the United Arab Emirates’ authorities to immediately release five activists following their conviction today by the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi for insulting government officials. Nasser bin Ghaith, Fahad Salim Dalk, Hassan Ali al-Khamis and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq received two years’ imprisonment for criminal defamation, while Ahmed Mansoor was given three years. Amnesty International considers the “UAE 5” activists to be prisoners of conscience. “The defamation charges the UAE5 faced are not internationally recognizable criminal offences and the trial process has been grossly flawed from the outset. The men are imprisoned for nothing…
South Africa: ‘Dark day’ for free speech as secrecy bill is passed
“Today is a dark day for freedom of expression in South Africa. This fatally flawed bill, which is totally at odds with the South African constitution, takes us right back to the apartheid-era restrictions on free speech” Noel Kututwa, Amnesty International’s deputy Director for Africa. The South African parliament’s approval of a draconian secrecy bill which could see journalists and whistleblowers in prison for investigating state wrongdoing is a worrying development for the country, Amnesty International said today. The bill, which could see journalists facing up to 25 years in prison for publishing information which state officials want to keep secret, was overwhelmingly approved in parliament, with 229 votes to 107. Black-clad activists across the…
Bahrain report must lead to action over protest abuses
The BICI report is looking into allegations of abuse by Bahraini security forces © Getty Images “ Allowing this independent inquiry into the Manama protests and their aftermath was a very welcome move, but the whole exercise will have been meaningless if the report’s recommendations are not translated into real action to redress abuses. ” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Acting Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Mon, 21/11/2011 The publication this week of a report on events surrounding pro-reform protests in Bahrain earlier this year is an opportunity for the government to deliver justice for the victims of human rights violations, Amnesty International said today. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report’s…
Egypt military rulers must rein in security forces
Egyptian riot police stand ready during Tahrir Square protests © KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images “ This bloodshed over the weekend is utterly unacceptable. The violence yet again calls into question the orders given to security forces. ” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Acting Middle East and North Africa Director. Mon, 21/11/2011 Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) must urgently bring an end to the excessive use of force that has led to numerous deaths and injuries amid protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square since Saturday, Amnesty International said today. Some two dozen people have reportedly been killed in violent clashes that erupted in Cairo and Alexandria since Saturday. Hundreds have also been injured in the clashes…